Iran's unseen Supreme Leader may turn to Putin as first foreign contact amid war

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not make public appearances until war with the United States and Israel ends, per an Iranian source to TASS.

Khamenei's first foreign contact could be with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting deepening Tehran-Moscow ties.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking office in February after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

The US and Israel launched war on Iran on February 28; a June ceasefire memorandum collapsed after US resumed airstrikes on July 8, accusing Iran of violations.